Panthers notebook: Munnerlyn, defense answer 'weakest link' criticism

CHARLOTTE — Carolina Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn says he actually has a great deal of respect for Santonio Holmes as a top-notch NFL receiver.

After his 41-yard touchdown interception return helped the Panthers beat Holmes’ New York Jets 30-20 on Sunday, Munnerlyn talked about Holmes’ talent and his signature moment — the winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl XLIII for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

But when Holmes called the Panthers’ secondary their “weakest link” earlier this week, he perhaps unified Carolina more than anyone could’ve imagined.

“I’ve never seen him call nobody out,” Munnerlyn of Holmes. “I guess he was trying to light a fire under his team — and it was the opposite. It lit a fire under our team.”

As amazing as it seems, Holmes of the 30th-ranked Jets’ passing offense said this about the fifth-ranked Panthers passing defense on Thursday: “Not to call those guys out, but their secondary is probably their weakest link on defense.”

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said afterward the message was received by his team.

“They were challenged,” Rivera said. “Our guys were challenged. If they challenge one of them, they challenge us all.”

Munnerlyn’s interception return was the highlight of an effort in which the Panthers limited Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith to 15-of-28 passing for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception while sacking him four times and limited Holmes to two catches for 14 yards.

“I was really excited before this game,” Munnerlyn said. “I hated having to wait until 4 o’clock. We felt that as a locker room. Our defensive line took it personal. Our linebackers took it personal. Our offense took it personal.”

Munnerlyn’s TD return means he’s now returned five of his seven career interceptions for touchdowns. It also broke a tie for the team record at four TD interception returns with former Panthers safety Mike Minter.

Newton injury scare

After scrambling seven yards late in the first half, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton injured his big toe enough that he was checked at halftime and backup Derek Anderson warmed up before the second half.

Rivera said he was confident his starting quarterback would return, though he did have his shoe taken off and was re-taped at halftime.

“It was nothing too serious,” Newton said. “It was a shocker at first, but as the game wore on, it loosened up.”

Red zone struggles

After Week 13, the Panthers were fourth in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage at 63.2 percent.

But they were 1-for-3 in that situation in last week’s 31-13 loss at New Orleans and failed to score touchdowns in their first three trips to the red zone on Sunday.

Page 2 of 2 - But after linebacker Jason Williams blocked a Jets punt with 12:50 left in the game to give the Panthers the ball at the New York 14, Carolina snapped out of its recent slump — two times.

After DeAngelo Williams ran for four and seven yards on back-to-back plays to move the football to the 3, Mike Tolbert had a touchdown run reversed by a instant replay review, then went untouched on the following play for a 1-yard touchdown run.

All-black uniforms

Voted the NFL’s all-time best uniforms in online voting last offseason , the Carolina Panthers all-black uniforms were worn for the second time in a regular-season game on Sunday.

And they came up with better results than their last game.

That’s when the Panthers scored first but were blown out 36-14 last November by the Denver Broncos in John Fox’s first game back in Charlotte since he was Panthers head coach.

And six touchbacks out of seven kickoffs Sunday should keep him atop the conference as it means he has 56 touchbacks out of 73 kickoffs this season.

The only non-touchback on Sunday?

After a 15-yard penalty made him kick from his own 20.

Milestones

Despite having three major knee surgeries in his Carolina Panthers career, linebacker Thomas Davis played his 100th game on Sunday….

Steve Smith caught a pass in his 105th straight game on Sunday, a streak that dates to the 2006 regular season finale and his 20 yards receiving gives him 12,153 for his career — and into 19th place all-time after passing Charlie Joiner. Next up in 18th is Jimmy Smith with 12,287 yards….

DeAngelo Williams’ 72-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was the longest of his career. His previous long was a 53-yard touchdown reception against Atlanta on Dec. 9, 2012….

Williams’ blocked punt was the first for the Panthers since Greg Hardy at the New York Giants on Sept. 12, 2010….

Tickets distributed for Sunday’s game was 73,251, which marked a franchise-record 112th straight sellout.